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    Home » Recipes » Soups » Easy Homemade Minestrone Soup recipe

    LAST UPDATED: February 2, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: February 23, 2021 By Toni Dash 11 Comments

    Easy Homemade Minestrone Soup recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    minestrone soup in bowl with spoon

    Minestrone soup is a hearty soup full of vegetables, beans, pasta and potatoes with delicious Italian herbs. This version is paired down for time and ingredients but not on flavor! It’s a soul warming classic soup recipe.

    bowl of minestrone soup with spoon

    Italian food is argueably the best comfort food there is. Wonderful flavor, hearty textures and pleasing to the eye.

    Minestrone soup is no exception. If you love soups like Pasta e Fagioli or Zuppa Toscana Soup you’ll love this Minestrone soup recipe.

    It’s full of vegetables, potatoes, beans and pasta all in a simple delicious broth.

    This family loved recipe is absolutely delicious!

    Easy Minestrone Soup

    I have had another recipe for ‘Old School Minestrone Soup‘ on this website since almost when it began. It’s a family recipe I remember my mother making every year.

    It’s delicious with about 30 ingredients and makes about 10 quarts. She would spend the day making it and canning it.

    I’ll be honest, I just don’t have that kind of time or patience. So we’ve created a more streamlined soup recipe. It’s just as good with loads of options to change up the ingredients to include your favorites.

    And it’s ready in less than an hour.

    Think of this recipe as a stand alone recipe or a starting point to customize it with ingredients you love.

    bowl of minestrone soup overhead

    No wrong way to make it

    This is one of those recipes like French Cassoulet that every family makes in their own way. There is not one set recipe.

    It’s a hearty vegetable soup that often uses whatever is in the refrigerator or pantry.

    It can be vegetarian OR have meat. It can have potatoes and/or rice but doesn’t have to.

    That’s the beauty of it. And why we’ve included such a long Variations list. There really is no limit to how it can be changed up.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    Olive oil. Used for sautéing the vegetables and giving classic Italian flavor.

    Yellow onion, Carrots and Celery. The holy trinity of soup starters. These are chopped and sautéed in the first step.

    Canned Tomatoes. Either whole or diced tomatoes can be used. We recommend San Marzano type tomatoes if possible which are a flavor-dense Italian tomato. If you can find a type with Italian spiced added like garlic and basil even better!

    Dark kidney beans. These add color and flavor to the soup. Or try a white bean (more in Variations below).

    Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning. These add a punch of flavor with no prep. The Italian seasoning blend is a great time shortcut but certainly not a flavor short cut. It has all the traditional spices you’ll need.

    Potato. We suggest a large Yukon Gold or new/Red Potato. They don’t need to be peeled which saves time. The waxy consistency holds up well to simmering in the soup, unlike russet potatoes which can start to disintegrate.

    Pasta. Either regular or gluten-free pasta work. Choose a smaller shape like digitali, elbow, or small shells.

    Stock or Broth. Use low sodium chicken stock or vegetable broth (or a mix). You’ll add salt at the end of cooking to your preference.

    Salt and pepper. Used before serving.

    Chopped parsley and parmesan cheese for topping

    minestrone soup ingredients

    Variations

    Add some fresh diced garlic. The garlic in the soup is very mild in flavor. If you like garlic, add up to 4 cloves fresh garlic minced. Add them for the last minute of the vegetables sautéing in the first step.

    Add seasonal vegetables. Classic minestrone often includes zucchini, green beans, fresh tomatoes. If desired add those….

    Swap the beans. A classic bean in minestrone soup is Cannellini beans. Use those instead of kidney beans.

    Add salt. Saving the salt until the end let’s you season to your liking without risking it being too salty. It will need salt. Either salt the finished pot of soup or let individual diners salt their own.

    Add some fresh greens. Kale or spinach is delicious in this soup. Add 2 cups during the last phase of simmering when the pasta and potatoes are added.

    Change up the spices. Add a bay leaf or two, a couple fresh sprigs of thyme, more dried oregano, some fresh basil or even some crushed red pepper flakes.

    Stir in some pesto. If you love basil stir in some pesto at the end.

    Add a splash of acid. When the soup is done cooking adding a 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice or red wine vinegar. It really perks up the flavors.

    Add some Italian sausage. Add either ground Italian sausage (sauté it in the beginning step) or sliced links. Hot Italian sausage will give a spicy flavor.

    Tried and Tested Recipe

    This recipe has been tested with regular and gluten-free pasta at sea level and altitude with great results. Our recommended gluten-free pasta brand is Tinkyada for it’s flavor and good structure through cooking.

    bowl of minestrone soup side view

    How to Make it – Step-by-Step

    How do you make Minestrone from scratch?

    You’ll never believe how easy it is!

    STEP 1. Sauté the vegetables

    Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots (photo 1) and sauté until softened (5 minutes).

    STEP 2. Add ingredients and simmer

    Add the tomatoes, beans, spices and broth (photos 2-3). Cook for 15 minutes with the lid on partially covering the pot.

    minestrone soup recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 3. Add potatoes, pasta and finish cooking

    Add the potatoes and pasta; stir to combine (photos 4-5). Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pasta and potatoes are cooked through (photo 6).

    minestrone soup recipe steps 5-6

    STEP 4. Garish and serve

    Add salt either to the full batch or servings. Top with chopped Italian parsley and shredded Parmesan cheese.

    Pro Tips

    Don’t leave the soup on the heat. Once the pasta is cooked it will absorb more liquid if left on warm on the stove top. Once the soup is cooked remove from the heat and rewarm servings if needed. If you do not add pasta to the soup it can be left on low heat.

    Cut potatoes into small pieces. To ensure the potatoes cook in the same amount of time as the pasta, cut them into very small pieces.

    Is it pronounced Minestrone or MinestronE?

    I grew up calling it minestronE, saying an ‘e’ sound at the end. Many call minestrone (rhymes with drone), not pronouncing the E at the end. Or with an -eh sound at the end. There is no wrong way to say it.

    What does the word Minestrone translate to mean?

    It’s an derivative of an Italian word meaning soup. But is better defined as a hearty soup made with vegetables, pasta and/or rice.

    What do you eat with Minestrone?

    This soup is filling so not much is needed to go with it. Here are some ideas: garlic breadsticks, bruschetta, roasted peppers, Sicilian Cauliflower Salad, Italian Pasta salad, Rosemary roasted chicken breasts or Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.

    Storing Leftovers

    Allow the soup to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    It can also be frozen. Allow to cool completely and put into a freezer safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    bowl of minestrone soup WITH SPOON

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    minestrone soup

    Easy Minestrone Soup

    The classic Italian soup is packed with aromatic Italian herbs, vegetables, potatoes and pasta in a comforting broth. It's easy to make in under and hour.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 10 1-cup servings (10 cups total yield)
    Calories: 123kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ large yellow onion chopped
    • 2 medium celery stalks chopped
    • 1 large carrot peeled and chopped
    • 1 14.5-ounce can diced or whole roasted tomatoes with Italian seasoning
    • 1 15.5-ounce can dark kidney beans
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 large Yukon Gold or new potato scrubbed and diced
    • 1 cups small pasta regular or gluten-free; ditalini, elbow, small shells
    • 6 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable stock or a combination
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • Chopped parsley and parmesan cheese for topping

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook until softened, around 5 minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, spices and broth. Stir to combine. Partially cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes. Break up the tomatoes is using whole canned tomatoes.
    • Add the potatoes and pasta; stir. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pasta and potatoes are fully cooked.
    • Salt to taste and serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

    Notes

    Pro Tips
    Don’t leave the soup on the heat. Once the pasta is cooked it will absorb more liquid if left on warm on the stove top. Once the soup is cooked remove from the heat and rewarm servings if needed. If you do not add pasta to the soup it can be left on low heat.
    Cut potatoes into small pieces. To ensure the potatoes cook in the same amount of time as the pasta, cut them into very small pieces.
    Storing Leftovers
    Allow the soup to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    It can also be frozen. Allow to cool completely and put into a freezer safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1246IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Colleen Jayne says

      February 23, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      5 stars
      This is so incredible! I added some more garlic and red pepper flakes and everyone loved it!

      Reply
    2. Katie says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:48 am

      5 stars
      Love how simple and healthy this is.

      Reply
    3. Lindsay says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:17 am

      5 stars
      The best soup for a cold day! Love the flavors and how hearty this is!

      Reply
    4. Jessica Burgess says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:11 am

      5 stars
      So I had minestrone for the first time the other day at a restaurant and I fell in love! I immediately came home, searched how to make it and I tried this one today. It’s even better than the one I had at the restaurant! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Katherine says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      So many great flavors in this awesome minestrone!

      Reply
    6. Jen says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      This was so good! I had a large loaf of crusty bread to dip into to soak up all the goodness of the broth at the end.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        February 23, 2021 at 10:19 am

        Perfect!

        Reply
    7. Catherine says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:46 am

      5 stars
      Such a comforting dish…I love minestrone! This is the perfect winter meal..so hearty.

      Reply
    8. Jessica Formicola says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      We are getting even more snow today, so a bowl of this is exactly what I needed!

      Reply
    9. Sandhya S says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:34 am

      5 stars
      Minestrone Soup is perfect for cold wintery days! Thank you for an amazing recipe.

      Reply
    10. Michelle says

      February 23, 2021 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      We love Minestrone soup but it usually takes too long to make (too much ingredient prep). This version is perfect. All the great ingredients and it comes together so fast. I did add some kale at the end too!

      Reply

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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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